Capsule-machine.



H. J. HUBERT' CAPSULE MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED ocr. 1.19:1

Patented June 11, 1918.

1,269,M&

2 SHEETS-SHEET I tuba-u:

jp QML? wwm H. J. HUB ERT. CAPSULE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I, 19!?- Patented J n ne 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Alumna:

nnrrnn snares ra rnn r FFl@E.

HENRY J'. HU'BYEBT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOIR T0 JOHN T. MILLIKEN, OF

1 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

onrsnnn-macnmn.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent. Pgmtmntefl J 111 191% Application filed October 1, 1917. Serial No. 194,297.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, HENRY J. HUBERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Capsule-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to capsule. ma-

chines. It has more particularly to do with that portion of the machine known as: the first container or receiver for the formed capsule shell, which cooperates with the cut ting-off mechanism for trimming the end of the shell to size. I 1 I j In machines of this character, the formed capsule shells are made to travel through conducting tubes and into thereceivers by gravity and suction. Owing to theprevailing construction and arrangement of the movable cooperating parts of the mechanism of such machines, it has been heretofore difficult to maintain,yat alltimes, sufficiently tight joints between the meeting parts to prevent leakage of air, resulting in the chokingof the tubes and the incomplete reception of the shells into the receivers.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects to maintain air-tight joints; to secure simplicity of structure and facilitate its installationin machines of the character above set forth without altering the present parts which cooperate therewith; to insure constancy and precision of operation; and to attain certain advantages as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention,

Figure l is a fragmentary. view,ppartly in side elevation. and partly in section,

showing only somuch-lofthema'chine' as directly concerns the invention; I

Fig. 2=is a view,on'an enlarged scale,

partly'in end elevation andpartly in sec- .tion, showing the valve aarrangement beceiver-tube moved to position to cut off communication .with the suction-pipe; j 'Figyl isia sectionthrough the recei' .ertube and the cooperating trimming mechanism, the receiver-tube being in L receiving position and a capsule shell being shown in thereceiverg' .7

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the recelver-tube moved to position to discharge the capsule shell, the shell being shown as moved onto the mandrel of the trimming mechanism by the ejector;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the trimming mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation thereof. Referring now to the drawings, a portion of the supporting frame of the machine is indicated by the numeral 1. Journaled in the frame is a tube 2 whose ends are closed. On one end of the tube is a crank 3 which, 1n practice, is connected to suitable actuating mechanism (not shown) whereby the tube 2 1s given an intermittent oscillation or pertial rotation as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Extending diametrically through the tube 2, hereinafter referred to as the receiver tube, is a multiplicity of tubular receivers 4 for the capsule shells. Fitted slidably in the receivers are ejectors 5 having elongated stems 6 extending loosely through apertures in an actuator-bar 7 and being screwthreaded at their ends to receive jam nuts 8 which normally abut the outer face of said actuator-bar. On the stems 6 are collars 9, and sleeved on said stems are springs 10, which bear at their ends against said collars and the inner face of the actuator-bar 7 Cooperating with the receiver-tube 2 is a shoe 11 comprising a concavo-convex bar having angular bracket extensions 12 at its ends which are slotted to receive bolts 13, whereby said bar is secured to the frame members 1 in adjustable relation to said receiver-tube. The circumference of the receiver-tube and the concaved inner face of the bar are ground with exact nicety to produce an air-tight joint while permitting rotation of said tube.

The actuator-bar 7 is mounted slidably on parallel guide-pins 14: projecting from the receiver-tube 2, and it is yieldably held in normal position by springs 15 sleeved on said guide-pins between it and'the tube.

This actuator-bar is pressed toward said receiver-tube by cams or levers. (notshown) with the respective receivers 4 when the latter are set vertically, as shown in Fig. 4;, in which positionthe capsuleshells, indicated by the numeral 17, are drawn into-the receivers 4L by suction due to a partialvacuum created in the tube 2 in a manner now to be described, there bemg a series of apertures 18 in the receivers at or adjacent to the end of the ejector 5.

Near the end of the tube 2 opposite to that at which the crank 3 is applied, is an opening 19 which registerswith an opening in the end of a pipe-coupling 20 to which a suction-pipe 21 is attached (see Figs. 1 and 2). The cooperating end of the-cou- ,pling is rounded out to correspond to the curvature of the tube 2 and it;is pr.eferably provided with a bushing 22,the bearing face of which isnground to produce an air-tight joint'with the tube 2.

. Onpppositesides of the tube 2, the coupling' 20 is provided with lugs 23 from which depend studs 24 on whichtheapen tured endportions of a yoke 25 areloosely sleeved. Thisyoke is provided with a pair of rollers 26engaging the tube 2, and :it is held in place by jam-nuts 27 on the ends of the studs 24, springs 28 being sleeved on saidstuds and under compression between said lugs 23 and washers 29 resting on the end portions of said yoke.

. When the receivers l are in receiving position, as shown in Fig. 4c, the opening 19 in the tube 2 establishes communication with the suction pipe 21, as ishown iinFig. 2. After the capsule shell 17 is drawn into the receiver 4, the tube 2 is given a partial rotation, approximately a quarter turn, or

.more or less, asthe case may be, according to the relative arrangement of the eoiiperat ing parts of the machine. This movesthe opening 19 out of register with theopening in the coupling 20, and as the opening 19 is exposed, as shown in Fig; 3, atmospheric pressure is restored within the tube 2. This actuation of the tube 2 brings the receivers 4- 1n alinement with the mandrels 30 of the trunming mechanlsin, and immediately thereafter, the actuator-ban? is moved in the usualmanner toward the tube 2, by the mechanism: not shown, but whiclr'will be the same as it has heretoforebeen-employed in machines of this character. The GJGGtOTS 5 i are thereby actuated to effect the transfer of i the capsule shells from the receivers 4: to the mandrels 30 .(see Fig. The shells are then trimmed to size i'n the same manner in which rit-has heretofore been done. i Thetrimming mechanism need not be al tered: in :the least in. the application of the presentinvention to thelmachine. Hence, only so much thereof as cooperates directly with the presentstructure is illustrated in ia fragmentary and schematic manner. In

Figs. 4, Band 7 of the dra wings, emaiknowntype of cutting-off mechanism is shown. In this form the mandrels 30 are The stripper, indi actuation. That is, it is first reciprocated to discharge the trimmed capsule shell, and a second time to discharge the wastemate rialfrom the wtwio; companion mandrels.

The circular cutting knives 32 also cooperate with two mandrels. "These: knives are given a partial rotation in'each direction when'actuated, and their marginal 1 portions travel 1n: close relation to one slde of grooves .33 in the mandrels 30 so as to:shear-the capsule shell, the mandrels being also r0 tated reversely to said ikn1ves,-=but at a greater speed, owing to the smaller ipinions Set 1 on i the mandrels being in :mesh with. the larger pinions 35011 the spindles of the :knives.

"herein setforth, the-number of separate parts. is -II11I11II1'1Z6Ql and the mechanism sun- 'pli fied, in addition to the prevention of air leakage and the avoidance of lnterference 1n theoperation cit-the machine by: lessening thepossibility of foreign particles getting between the movable rparts.

i Obviously, the structure admits of considerable -modification without- 1 departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the appended claims Therefore, it isnot-limited to the construction and: arrangement shown.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a capsu1e machine, in-combination with the usual conducting device for the formed capsule :shell,- J and thetrimming mechanism 1 for r the :shell, a shoe through which the conducting device extends, and a Suction-controlled receiver for the capsule shell, receiver being movable alternately in air tight engagement with said shoe into.

cooperative relation to said conducting device and to said trmuning mejehanism,

2. lna capsu'le machine, recombination with L the condu'cting-device for: the 'formed capsule shell, 1 and the "trimming rnechanism for the shell, said conducting device comprising i mute, and said trimming mechanism icomprising -a-- mandrel 2t1'ld a, -c'utting knife cooperating therewith, a shoe through which: said tube "of the a conducting :device extends, lsaid shoevhaving an areuate face, "a

:suctiomcontrnlled reeeiveetube it in rotatableengagement :with the arcuate -face oftaid shoe, a tubular receiver disposedwtransversely in said receiver-tube and being transversely apertured, and an ejector in said receiver, said receiver-tube being moved to bring said receiver alternately into alinement with said conducting tube to receive the capsule shell therefrom and with the mandrel of the trimming mechanism to eifect the transfer of the shell to said mandrel.

3. In a capsule machine, a rotatable receiver-tube having a tubular receiver disposed transversely therein, and an ejector movable longitudinally in said receiver, said receiver being transversely apertured adjacent to said ejector, a shoe having an arouate face in air-tight contact with which said receiver-tube moves, a conducting tube for the formed capsule shell extending through said shoe, a trimming device comprising a mandrel and a cutting knife cooperating therewith, said mandrel and said conducting tube being disposed radially in cooperative relation to said receiver-tube at an angle to each other but in the same axial plane with said receiver, whereby the receiver is brought alternately into alinement with said conducting tube and said mandrel when the receiver-tube is oscillated, and a suction-pipe having a coupling with which said receivertube is rotatably engaged, said receiver-tube having an opening so correlated to said receiver and the suction-pipe coupling that, when the receiver is in cooperative relation to said conducting tube, communication is established with said suction-pipe to draw the capsule shell into the receiver, and when the receiver is moved into cooperative relation to said mandrel of the trimming de vice, atmospheric pressure is restored in said receiver.

4. In a capsule machine, a receiver for the formed capsule shell, the same comprising an oscillatory tube, a tubular receiver disposed transversely in said tube, said receiver being transversely apertured and having an ejector movable longitudinally therein, a shoe with which said oscillatory tube has an air-tight rotatable engagement, and a conducting tube extending through said shoe radially with respect to the axis of said oscillatory tube.

5. In a capsule machine, a receiver for the formed capsule shell, the same comprising an oscillatory tube, a tubular receiver disposed transversely in said tube, said re ceiver being transversely apertured and having an ejector movable longitudinally there in, a shoe with which said oscillatory tube has an air-tight rotatable engagement, a conducting tube extending through said shoe radially with respect to the axis of said oscillatory tube, whereby said receiver may be brought into alinement with said conducting tube, a suction-pipe having a coupling with which said oscillatory tube is rotatably engaged, said oscillatory tube having an open ing whereby, when said receiver and said conducting tube are in cooperative relation, communication is established with said suction-pipe and the capsule shell is drawn into the receiver, and when said receiver is moved out of such relation to said conducting tube, atmospheric pressure is restored in the re ceiver.

6. In a capsule machine, a conducting device for the formed capsule shell, and a receiver for} said shell, said receiver being suction-controlled and having an air-tight slidable engagement with said conducting device.

7. In a capsule machine, a shoe having a row of conducting tubes extending therethrough for the formed capsule shells, a receiver-tube having an air-tight rotatable engagement with said shoe, said receiver-tube having a multiplicity of tubular receivers disposed transversely therein in correlation to the respective conducting tubes, a trimming mechanism comprising a multiplicity of mandrels and cutting knives cooperating therewith, there being one of said mandrels correlated to each of said receivers, said receiver-tube being oscillated to bring said receivers alternately into cooperative alinement with said conducting tubes and with said mandrels of the trimming mechanism, a suctionpipe, and means for establishing communication between said suction-pipe and said receivers when the latter are in cooperative relation to said conducting tubes.

Signed at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 29, 1917.

HENRY J. I-IUBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. it. 

